Xiuwenfang in Nancheng, Luoyang, is a lifang that has been preserved since the Tang Dynasty. Although the name remains, its charm is no longer. However, it is still a good choice for noble ministers to buy their homes.
Located in it, there is the Hou Mansion, which is the other mansion of Hou Zhang, the governor of the Zhenguo Army, in Xijing.
In the evening, in the palace, the bells rang and the dishes were served, and the servants were waiting in groups. Hou Zhang held a banquet in the palace and invited old friends to visit the palace. The guests at the banquet were the Jianxiong Jiedushi who also came to Xijing for an audience.
Wang Yan and Baoyi Army Jiedushi Zhao Hui.
To say how deep the friendship between these three people is, it is not necessarily true. Just last year, the three of them killed Khitan generals in Shaanzhou, raised righteousness in Yingcheng, presented themselves to Jinyang, and made Liu Zhiyuan the emperor. No matter how you calculate it, it's all
Revolutionary friendship is rare when we are together, so when Hou Zhang invited me, we had to give him some face.
Hou Zhang, Zhao Hui, and Wang Yan are all nearly 60 years old and have been veterans for three generations. However, after serving in the army for decades, even in the later Jin Dynasty, the highest military position was no more than the No. 1 Capital School of the Forbidden Army, a middle- and lower-ranking officer.
In fact, if the Khitans had not destroyed the Jin Dynasty last year and the Hua Xia Dynasty had fallen, and the three of them had taken the opportunity to rise up, I am afraid that it would have been difficult for them to achieve a breakthrough even when they reached the rank. However, at the right time for a hero, even at an old age, he was suddenly promoted from a mere military academy to a jiedu, with great power and fame.
Possessing wealth.
After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the court also praised the three people more. Whether it was Liu Zhiyuan or Liu Chengyou, these three people were examples of the court's good care of Fangzhen. Furthermore, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan also had the talent of guarding.
As for Hou Zhang, haha. This is another typical warrior, known for his corruption. He has been in charge of Hua Prefecture for less than a year, and it has been completely exposed. He has no good governance. Compared with Zhao and Wang, he pales in comparison. Of course, if compared*
If it is bad, Hou Zhang is slightly better than those warriors who are greedy, cruel and considerate of human life...
"Brother Zhao, Brother Wang, let me toast you two again." Although Hou Zhang is old, he looks very strong and in good health. He eats wine in one gulp.
"Brother Hou, please!" Zhao Hui and Wang Yan responded, a little reserved. They just took a sip.
Looking at the table full of fine wines and delicacies, Zhao Hui described him as solemn and kindly advised Hou Zhang: "The country is poor, the emperor advocates frugality, and the court prohibits alcohol. I am here to have a banquet, and I need to restrain myself..."
Hearing this, Hou Zhang immediately shook his head, got drunk, and spoke eloquently: "Brother Zhao, don't worry too much, the emperor can still control our food and drink? I have worked hard in the army for decades, suffered for decades, and when I get old, I still won't let him go."
Let's enjoy ourselves, there is no such thing in the world. Besides, the emperor held a banquet yesterday, didn't he also serve the imperial wine to entertain the festival? It doesn't matter."
Seeing Hou Zhang's attitude, Zhao Hui wisely decided not to go any further on this topic. It was enough. He glanced at Wang Yan, who was facing the case, and seemed to have a tacit understanding that he should not have any deep friendship with him.
Huazhou and Shaanzhou are neighbors, so he naturally heard about Hou Zhang's gathering behavior in Huazhou. If he didn't listen to the advice, there was nothing he could do.
After drinking some wine, Hou Zhang looked happy. Taking advantage of the wine, he said with emotion: "I think the three of me were originally in the Forbidden Army. They had no reputation and were despised by others. But now, we are all commanders, sitting in command and enjoying the glory."
, such luck is the result of God’s love for us.”
"It also depends on the trust and favor of the imperial court and the emperor." Zhao Hui agreed lightly.
"Yes, I also want to thank the Khitans. If they hadn't gone south and destroyed the previous dynasty, we wouldn't have been able to come forward." Hou Zhang laughed.
"Brother Hou, be careful!" Zhao Hui seemed a little impatient with this man's arrogance.
Hou Zhangze didn't care and asked: "What I said is true. Why is Brother Zhao so careful?"
"Brother Hou, have you not heard about the recent events in Xijing?" It was difficult to speculate. Wang Yan rarely spoke during the banquet. At this time, he said in a deep voice: "Even the prime minister of Zhongshu has been imprisoned. We are here alone. If we don't restrain ourselves, we will only I’m afraid something bad is coming!”
"I think you two are too sensitive. We all have troops in the state and town. This time we are giving the emperor face and come to see us. How can he deal with us for no reason? As for Su Fengji, he is just a scholar, nothing more. Soldiers have no power and are not worthy of justice. In the past two days, the emperor has not tried to win over and appease us..." Hou Zhang became more and more arrogant, or maybe he was drunk and had no scruples.
As the wine got drunker, the atmosphere in the banquet room gradually became awkward. Zhao Hui and Wang Yan were not in high spirits, but Hou Zhang was enjoying it.
Feeling that the atmosphere was not good, Hou Zhang gradually became unhappy, with a look of displeasure almost on his face. After thinking about it, Hou Zhang took the initiative to ask questions and said something serious: "You two, you said that the emperor called me to wait. What do you mean you came to Xijing? Yesterday, at the royal banquet in the palace, although the emperor was talking and going around and around, I also heard something wrong. Who was he referring to when he said that there are fierce and stubborn people in the west with ulterior motives? "
"Don't you mean I'm waiting?" Hou Zhang couldn't help but make a joke and said happily: "Hahaha..."
Seeing his drunken state, Wang Yan's eyes were full of contempt, and he regretted going to the banquet today. He took a sip of wine and said casually: "Who among the festivals summoned by the emperor did not come?"
After such a hint, I felt like I was enlightened, but I asked: "Who else has the emperor summoned?"
Zhao Hui was a little surprised: "Brother Hou, don't you know?"
"What do I care about what others do?" Hou Zhang said matter-of-factly.
"Li Shouzhen in the river, Xue Huairang in the same state!" Upon seeing this, Zhao Hui couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth and said with a slightly solemn expression.
"Li Shouzhen?" After hearing this, Hou Zhang looked surprised, and then he couldn't help but be happy: "This is understandable. The Liu family robbed his daughter-in-law. It's no wonder that Li Shouzhen didn't dare to come to Xijing..."
Hou Zhang was so unscrupulous that he dared to directly make fun of the big talisman. Almost at the same time, Zhao Hui and Wang Yan shut their mouths, and they were no longer interested in talking.
"Brother Hou, we have finished drinking, so Zhao took his leave." Not long after, Zhao Hui left the table and said goodbye.
Wang Yan also stood up and said: "I still have something to do in my house..."
"What do you mean by this? How can we talk about having fun before the whole jar of wine is finished? When you two leave, is it because I didn't entertain you well?" Seeing the two people leaving the table, Hou Zhang was very surprised and asked a series of questions.
Zhao Hui handed over his hand, his attitude was quite gentle, and said: "Brother Hou, thank you very much for your warm reception. It's just that Zhao is not a good drinker. After all, he is old and his old injury has relapsed, so it is inconvenient to have a hangover."
Wang Yan did not say too many clichés: "Farewell!"
The two of them had already decided to leave, so how could Hou Zhang be able to retain them? They were angry and did not get up, so they were sent off by their servants.
The banquet was suspended and the awkward atmosphere in the hall suddenly broke. Hou Zhang sat behind the case with a sullen expression, his expression very ugly.
A drunken red formed on the old man's face. Hou Zhang couldn't help but burped, and then he threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground and said angrily: "Zhao, the king is bullying me!"
"master."
"Withdraw, withdraw them all!" Hou Zhang said impatiently, pointing at the banquet.
Zhao and Wang came out of the Hou Mansion together. Wang Yan lifted his beard, looked at Zhao Hui and said, "Brother Zhao, don't be close friends with Hou Zhang!"
Zhao Hui's face was pale, not very drunk, and he said with a little enthusiasm: "Although the emperor is young, he is very similar to the emperor, so he should not be insulted lightly. If you don't know yourself, you will be in trouble!"